So I got sucked into the movie Castaway with Tom Hanks the other night.  I had forgotten what a great movie it is.  For those who haven’t seen it, basically he gets into a plane crash and gets washed up alive on a deserted island.  Most of the movie is just him on this island and how he survives for over 4 years there and eventually makes it back home.  He says something at the end of the movie (once he’s back home) that I think is so powerful.  Here’s the quote:

“We both had done the math. Kelly added it all up and… knew she had to let me go. I added it up, and knew that I had… lost her. ‘cos I was never gonna get off that island. I was gonna die there, totally alone. I was gonna get sick, or get injured or something. The only choice I had, the only thing I could control was when, and how, and where it was going to happen. So… I made a rope and I went up to the summit, to hang myself. I had to test it, you know? Of course. You know me. And the weight of the log, snapped the limb of the tree, so I-I – , I couldn’t even kill myself the way I wanted to. I had power over *nothing*. And that’s when this feeling came over me like a warm blanket. I knew, somehow, that I had to stay alive. Somehow. I had to keep breathing. Even though there was no reason to hope. And all my logic said that I would never see this place again. So that’s what I did. I stayed alive. I kept breathing. And one day my logic was proven all wrong because the tide came in, and gave me a sail. And now, here I am. I’m back. In Memphis, talking to you. I have ice in my glass… And I’ve lost her all over again. I’m so sad that I don’t have Kelly. But I’m so grateful that she was with me on that island. And I know what I have to do now. I gotta keep breathing. Because tomorrow the sun will rise. Who knows what the tide could bring?”

Sometimes we can feel so hopeless, and all your logic may be telling you you’re completely screwed but if you just keep breathing, if you just keep living in the breath, and stay, at the very, very least, neutral (not positive or negative), you never know what will open up for you.

According to the Accurate and Reliable Dictionary (compared to all those phony, unreliable ones), hope is defined as a desire of some good, accompanied with an expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable; an expectation of something which is thought to be desirable; confidence; pleasing expectancy. 

Next time you feel like you have no control, or you’re just feeling really lousy, whatever you do, don’t give up hope because you never know what the tide will bring!

I am so thrilled!  I won 4 tickets to take a ride on Thomas the Train!!  I’m excited for my little guys, but I’m super excited because I actually won something, and super duper excited about how I did it!

It’s a pretty cool story about how it all came about.

I have this video downloaded on my computer and it’s been sitting on my desktop for months and months now (maybe even years), but I hadn’t viewed it.  So last week, I realized it was there (for the 100th time) but this time I decided to check it out.  I had no idea what it was.  So I hit play and began listening to this 83 year old woman named Helene Hadsell (I had to google her to find out who she is!).  She blew me away.  She actually sorta kinda reminded me of my grandmother…Nanny B!  Anyway, she had my full attention.

She is known as the “Winning Sage“.  Her whole life she has been winning contests, sweepstakes, whatever you want to call them…she wins!  Here’s how she does it (and how I did it): S.P.E.C.

S: Select it.  (What is it that you want?  Pick it out.)

P: Project it.  (See yourself with the thing you selected.  How does it feel?  Visualize yourself wearing it, using it, riding on it (Thomas the Train), whatever it is, you have to project it out there.)

E:  Expect it.  (Have complete faith and trust that you will get what you want.)

C:  Collect it.  (It’s yours…go get it!)

This was taken in 2008 when we drove to Rusk, Tx to see Thomas.

So I watch the video, google her to find out who this amazing woman is, and then I decide to go to a site that I frequent called Moms Like Me.  Right there on the home page is a contest to win Thomas tickets.  So of course I enter!  I wanted to take the boys on this awesome train ride.  I saw us riding the train and visualized the reaction on my kids faces when they see it’s a real live Thomas.  I expected to win.  I would have bought tickets, but I just knew I was going to win so I didn’t.  Then yesterday I get an email saying I won and my tickets will be at will call for whatever day I want to go!!

HAHA I would say I can’t believe it, but I can!  I knew I would win.  I did exactly what Helene (my new grandmother, by the way told me to do.

I am just so thrilled by this!  You know, she’s really just using the Law of Attraction to get what she wants.  She never mentioned LOA on the video I viewed or anything that I saw online about her, but that’s exactly what she does.  I just love it!

——————————————————————————————————————————

Unfortunately the file size is too big for me to post the video.  I really wanted you to watch it, but doesn’t look like I’m going to be able to get it on here.  (I’ve been trying to get it to upload for some time now, but my server isn’t allowing me that space…my computer knowledge doesn’t extend beyond that

And as a side note…this picture of my family in front of Thomas was when we drove to Rusk, Tx in 2008.  Since the boys are older now and Miles (my little one) is totally diggin’ Thomas I think this time will be even better!

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Day 21.

I can’t believe it’s been 3 weeks since I started this challenge.  Life goes by way too fast, which is why there’s no point in stressing, worrying, doubting, complaining, etc.  It’s all a complete waste of time.  Just think how different your life would be without doing all those things.  How different would your life be if you enjoyed every moment…if you took in all the little things that life offers you at that moment (good and “bad”) and were just totally grateful for it?  That’s what this challenge has helped me realize.

I’m understanding that what I consider problems or issues or stress or crazy situations is just my perspective of it.  When I shift my perspective to a more positive one, I get different results.  If I just shift my perspective to a grateful one, it changes the entire circumstance.

This challenge has made me feel better, and I’m so grateful for that because I know that feeling good is what it’s all about.  Don’t we all just want to feel good?  Doesn’t our life basically boil down to that one statement…I want to feel good!

When I would get irritated with toys strung all over the house, I would think how grateful we are to have all these toys.  When I want to honk & cuss at the car in front of me for not going fast enough, I would think how grateful I am for being safe and how grateful I am that I get to go wherever it is that I was headed.  When I had to make a choice, I was grateful that I get to make a choice and that I have options.  When I didn’t feel like making dinner, I was grateful that I had food to make, that I had a house to cook it in and clean dishes and gas to heat it.

This feels good!

This gratitude challenge has made me stop, take the time, and write about my gratitude.  I’m so thankful I did.  It puts things in perspective.  I realize more and more everyday just how great I have it, just how great my life is.  It has given me peace, and allows me to just relax and take it all in…to enjoy the now moment.

This feels good!

As you know (or maybe you don’t), I’m a HUGE believer in the Law of Attraction, where like attracts like.  When I have a feeling of appreciation it’s an energy that I radiate.  That energy is drawing to itself more energy of the same quality, so more things are coming into my experience for me to be appreciative of.

This feels good!

The challenge ends today, but I will never stop being grateful.  I will continue to write in my gratitude journal, and I will continue to be open to receive more good things in my life.

WOW – THIS FEELS GOOD!

(And thank you so, so much to everyone that reads my blog!)

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I was going to name this post “A Little House Cleaning” because really that’s what I should be doing BUT I would first like to tell you a bit about what else I’ve been doing.

At the beginning of this year I got involved with an organization called Spirit Jump.  I’ve blogged about it before so maybe you’re familiar.  If not, you need to read my blog more!  (HA Just kidding, or am I?)  No really, if you’re not familiar with Spirit Jump it’s an organization designed to “jump” or lift the spirits of cancer patients by sending them cards, gifts, and positive energy.  I have teamed up with a new found friend, Cherise, and together we have been able to send 10 or more pieces of jewelry per month to people that need “jumps”.  It’s been so much fun doing this and I can’t thank Cherise enough for all the financial help she has been able to provide.  It’s been really amazing and I just hope that the people on the receiving end are getting as much out of it as we are!

Besides the overall greatness of feeling good for giving, I’ve also recently been featured on a couple different blogs.  One of them is Foxy G Knits.  Lois, of Foxy G Knits, does a weekly tribute to different artists that pay it forward.  She calls it “Art from the ♥”.  I am honored to be one of Foxy G Knits featured artist!  You can see my feature here.  Thank you so much, Lois, for the write up!

Lois is an artist herself.  She hand-knits, one-of-a-kind shawls, wraps and scarves.  And she pays it forward to.  She sends hats and scarves to homeless shelters.  What a great idea!  Check out her beautiful creations!

Another blog that I have had the pleasure of being featured on is “Our Daily Blessing…Life“.  I met Amy through Spirit Jump.  She is battling cancer right now, and one of her sons has had 15 brain operations.  She blogs about her life, and all she’s got on her plate (4 kids and a 21 year marriage).  I have so much respect for her.  I can’t even imagine doing all she does!  She is as positive as she can be, and I truly have a lot of compassion for her and her family.  She is actually doing a giveaway…that giveaway being a $45 Self Symmetry gift certificate!  Get the details here.  I’d love to have you win.  Plus, it’s a great blog to follow!

That’s a little of what I’ve been doing lately, and why it’s been a while since I last posted.  That, and I’ve been cleaning…yeah right!

So my point here is that when you give what you can, you get a lot out of it.  I’ve not only been featured on these fabulous blogs, but I’ve been selling a lot of jewelry, getting custom orders, feeling good, and just enjoying my life!

If you’d like to be a Spirit Jumper too.  It’s so incredibly easy.  Visit their website, get on their email list, and start sending jumps!  You’ll be glad you did

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Okay, so I’m limited in time today to write something profound and genius like I usually do…haha  But – this came into my inbox and I find it so enlightening (no punn intended…read more and you’ll see what I mean!).

“Enlightenment means literally aligning to the Energy of my Source. And genius is only about focusing. Law of Attraction takes care of everything else. Physical humans often want to make enlightenment about finding some process and moving through the process that has been pre-described. But true enlightenment is moving to the rhythm of the internal inspiration that is coming in response to the individual desire. Enlightenment is about allowing my connection to the Source that is me for the fulfillment of the things that I have individually defined here in my time/space reality. That’s as good as it gets!”  –Abraham

Excerpted from an Ester & Jerry Hicks workshop in Boulder, CO on Saturday, June 7th, 2003

Sweet, huh?  So your job (and mine) is to know what you want, know what you desire, get in touch with your Source Energy, and then just let go and allow! Aaaahhh, so sweet~

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I was recently approached, via email, by a girl named Apryle.  She has some friends (Tiffany & Zach Pifer) that have been trying to conceive for 3 years now.  Still not pregnant, they have decided to visit a fertility clinic.  According to the Pifer’s blog, “Fertility clinics are not cheap and unfortunately my insurance doesn’t cover a dime for infertility treatments.”  However, they are fortunate enough to have 2 great friends, Apryle & Ashley.

What Apryle & Ashley have decided to do for the Pifer’s is to set up a fundraiser to help them get the funds they need for infertility treatment.  How awesome is this?  So what they’re doing is selling bracelets and key chains that say “Growing in Faith”.  Everyone that buys a bracelet &/or keychain is entered to win fabulous gifts that have been donated by different people.

Here’s where I step in!  I have donated a pair of pearl & turquoise earrings.  I get approached like this quite often and I rarely say no (maybe not a good thing to tell everyone )!  But the reason I said yes to Apryle and the “Pifer Bean Fund” is because I have been blessed with 2 beautiful children and they have enriched my life so much.  I want to give what I can to help another family experience the pure joy of a child (or possibly 2 or 3 with treatment…haha).

So, if you’d like to help the Pifer family as well please click on this link!

You can click here for the Pifer’s actual blog!

You never know, you may win these earrings!

Thank you so much to Apryle & Ashley.  You guys are such beautiful people!

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So I’ve always considered myself a very motivated person.  In fact, I’m sure somewhere on one of my old resumes “self-motivated” is on there!  Then it occurred to me just recently that being motivated isn’t a bad thing necessarily, but to be motivated means that I’m pushing myself to do something that I don’t really want to do, or that there’s some incentive to doing something that I wouldn’t typically want to do.  Hummmm… Sometimes I’m motivated to clean the house (I don’t really want to do that).  I need to get motivated to clean out my closet (I don’t really want to do that either).  When I was in sales I was motivated to make cold calls (Yuck, I hated doing that!).  I was motivated to make sales calls because if I didn’t then I wouldn’t make any money and I’d be fired.  So really motivation comes out of a feeling of fear, lack, and negative repercussions.

If you’re not motivated to do anything then eventually you have nothing, right?  But what about inspiration?  What if you were to take inspired action, rather than action out of negativity?

Inspiration comes from a place within.  It is always within you, it just has to be found.  It’s part of your inner light that wants so badly to shine, but life happens, stress happens, ego happens, and it gets lost in all the darkness.  When you find your inspiration, you know what do to and you want to do it.  You’re inspired!

Inspired action is easy, and fun.  You feel like you’re not doing anything, but rather you’re just being you.  I was inspired to write this.  I don’t feel like it’s “work” (even though that’s what I told my son I was doing…I should reword that to him next time!).  I don’t feel like I have to do this or else.  I am writing this because this is what I want to do!

What’s cool is that when you align to your inner being, you know exactly what it is you want.  When you clearly know what you want, inspiration is there.  You don’t have to motivate yourself to do anything.  You just do it.  (Side note – Nike really had something there.  I wonder if they actually knew what they were saying??… Things I ponder!)  You want to do it.  When you find that inspiration and take action out of that, everything else lines up for you.  Things, people, places, whatever, are lined up for you so that your inspired action is easy, and you get the outcome you want.

“F” this motivation stuff…I want to be inspired!

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So I want to follow up to a blog post I did a little over a month ago.  I, along with some other lovely internet people that I don’t really know, committed to a 30 day giving challenge.  Basically the idea was to give for 30 days…give a smile, kind words, a helping hand, just whatever you can give at any moment.  Here’s the actual post if you’d like to read it: CLICK HERE FOR 30 DAY CHALLENGE POST

I’m a pretty nice person in general (anyone that knows me can attest to that, but don’t ask the following 76 people…  j/k) so giving a smile or kind words wasn’t much of a stretch for me.  But I wanted to do the challenge because I wanted to see what it would be like to be aware of the giving rather than just going about my day.  And, I wanted to see if I could give more than I usually do.  Here’s what happened:

The first day was really good.  I smiled more at people and was kinder on the roads.  The second day was more interesting.  There was a guy in his car that was pulled way out from where he was suppose to be.  As I drove by him I gave him a dirty look and threw a hand up in the air meaning WTF!  As soon as I drove past him I realized what I had done.  I felt awful.  Did he really deserve a nasty look & a WTF sign (I didn’t flip him off if that’s what you’re thinking…just you know, a WTF)?  I mean, we all make mistakes, right?  I’m sure there’s been a handful of times that I’ve done that exact thing.  I wanted to turn around and give him a big smile and a “I’m so sorry” wave but I didn’t.  I thought that might be a little weird…he might have even given me a WTF sign then!  HA  I did, however, apologize to him and wish him well in my mind.

A few days later I was taking my little Max to school.  We were driving down the alley and there was a huge trash can in the way.  I decided to drive around it…after all we were running a bit late.  But, as I’m driving around it I’m thinking to myself “I know what I need to do.  I need to move it out of the way.”  I didn’t!  Again, I felt awful.  Luckily, it was still in the middle of the road on my way home from taking him to school so I was able to redeem myself!  (It’s an even better feeling when you give without someone looking.)

I loved doing this.  It’s such a good feeling to make someone’s day and to just be more polite in general.  I gave several spirit jumps (sending a small gift to a cancer patient to lift their spirits), and I always did my best to make the cashier, at Target, Walmart, or wherever I was, to feel better about their jobs (especially if I could tell they were just totally beaten down).  Being aware of what I was giving made me feel a sense of lightness, like everything is good and I’m not weighed down by negativity.  I just felt happier!

On the other side of the giving coin is receiving!  Here’s what I received out of this challenge:

–People were so nice to me on the roads.  I was going first at stop signs, people were waving me in to get in front of them, & I was even given a parking space when we both got to it at the same time!

–My husband took me on a surprise date because he wanted to let me know how much he appreciates me!

–On our date we went to an awesome sushi restaurant (Kenichi) and our entire bill was comped!

But…most importantly,

–I felt good.  I felt happier.  Period.

If you have stories on giving & receiving I’d love to hear them.  If you took the challenge with me, what did you experience?  Make a comment.

Now, let’s go out and keep giving…what have you to lose?

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